Apr: Day 10 Paris- 1st Wedding Anniversary

1 year ago, Apr 10th, 2010, we woke up early preparing for our big day, and 1 year later, we're boarding the Bateux Parisiens for a river cruise lunch!

 Today, we are taking it real "slow"~ 2.5 hours lunch cruise down the seine river

 Red wine & the glaring sun is making me burn in red 

 Professional photographer came around with the printed photos, but we did not purchase any. 

 After a stroll back to Saint Germain, we stopped by Cafe de Flore 

 Had a late afternoon chat with a parisian lady who lived in HK few years back. Our chat began with her rare breed "butterfly ear" dog. Dogs in paris are living in heaven, a dog bowl of water is right on the table, where my hot chocolate is placed!

As most stores are closed on sundays. We walked to Saint Sulphice church in search of the brass strip= Rose Line from Da Vinci code and ended our relaxing evening in Paris.

Apr: Paris Day 9- Versailles, Pompidou

Grabbed coffee and crossaint from PAUL and hopped on the train to Versailles, hoping to beat the crowd on a Sat! 

It was my 2nd visit to the Versailles, the palace was crowded with walking tours. After the grand tour, it's time to head to the park, time for lunch on the lawn.

Lunch from PAUL: Vegetable/mushroom quiche, baguette & canele.

 Looks like I really missed out blowing dandelions in my childhood. it was FUN~!

 It is definitely better to visit the Versailles on weekends

 As we were able to chase after various fountains.

Yet another visit to my favorite Stravinsky fountain designed by Niki de Saint Phalle @ Pompidou

Apr: Paris 8: Museum Day

Cliff's morning began with his 1st life time bite of a macaron, and he wondered why girls are crazy over this tiny dessert, but the lemon chocolate macaroon seemed to have earned his interest.

Manet @ the Musée d'Orsay

We love paris for the gorgeous weather, green parks and flowers blooming during spring time.

 Cliff is off to the Louvre while Peiya sets off to Galeria DFS for some parisian shopping!

Spotted: Cliff sun-tanning by the Lourve

Dinner time @ Le Marais

 Back to the hotel by Sorbonne University

Apr: Day 7- Paris- Notre Dame, Montmartre, Champ Elysees, Eiffel

Started the day with a climb up the Notre Dame, Ah! what a breathtaking view! 

 Grabbed a croque monsier by the touristic restaurant by Notre Dame and headed off to Sacre Coeur

Another view of paris from Montmartre

A short coffee and creme brulee break at Cafe des 2 Moulins~

 Visiting Moulin Rouge at night shall be a whole different scene

Next stop: Champ Elysees

 French don't eat dinner until 8pm, but we were hungry by 6.30pm!

A bag of macaroons and dessert had to be purchased before leaving Laduree.

 Night time stroll to the Eiffel tower, just in time when it is glittering bright, but for less than 60 secs!

Apr: London to Paris Day 6- St Paul's

Before hopping on the train to Paris @ 2pm, checked out of the hotel, lugged our luggage and headed to St Paul's.

 

Crossed the millenium bridge to the shakespeare's globe. It was still cold, if we were here for the summer, we would have bought a ticket for an outdoor shakespearean experience!

ok, we only had a short time to visit Tate Modern museum, as recommended by a co-worker. Before the museum opens at 10am, we grabbed some english breakfast at the Tate cafe.  

 Tate museum was transformed from an old power station, one of the most successful transformed architecture for modern art display.

 Back to St Paul's, bought a key lime tart from Pauls and Paris, here we come!

Within a 2 hr ride on Eurostar, we arrived @ Gare du nord, hopped on RER to Luxemburg and checked into our hotel right by Sorbonne University.

 A 10 min walk took us to Notre Dame and the beautiful park right behind.

We had to stop by Hotel De Ville, the first place I arrived at in '08 when I travelled to paris! Isn't it just romantic to be dancing right in front of Hotel De Ville?

 Dinner by the Le Marais @ Les Philosophies

 We were lucky to have met an english speaking waiter, or we'll be eating raw beef instead ~

Check out my rose shaped gelato from Amorini's!

Apr: London Day 4 &5- Buckingham, British Museum, Covent Garden, Broadway Shows

Day 4: We began our day with PAUL~ and headed off to Tragfalgar Sq, walked through the mall.

 It's not the american mall, it's the street leading to the Buckingham Palace.

 It was still early, the crowds have just begun to gather in front of the palace.

 View of St James Park

 With more than 1 hour wait before the change of guards, we decided to walk through Inn the park, to piccadilly circus where Fortnum & Mason is located.

 We left F&M with a bags full of tea, from earl grey to lady grey to apple tea!

Took a long walk back to see the change of guards at 11am.

 East meets west. Fusion is apparently popular in London too.

Broadway show #1: Billy Elliot @ Victoria

Day 5: After a hearty breakfast at PRET-a-manger by Goodge St, we headed indoors to the British museum as it was a rainy morning.

British museum was renovated in these recent years, which made our visit to the egyptian quarters a much more pleasant exploration.

Next stop: Time for Indian cuisine!

Puppets hung above the walls in this nicely decorated indian restaurant we found over the guidebook, right by the london school of ballet.

Meeting up with an old friend, Lidya from 14 years back @ Covent garden. Stopped by the famous Monmouth coffee, but it was way too crowded. A stop by the pub for some beer and a quick S'pore dinner @ chinatown before catching Wicked, the broadway show.